The only great tragedy

I WAS struck by a quotation used in Pope Francis’ “Gaudete

et exsultate,” which is about the call to holiness in today’s world.

He quoted a French essayist, Leon Bloy, who said, “the only great

tragedy in life is not to become a saint.” (GE 34)

  

            I could not agree more with it. After all, to be holy, to

be a saint is really what all of us are meant for. And that’s because

God made us to be such. He created us in his image and likeness.

Failing to become a saint is like failing in everything in our life,

no matter how successful we may be in the other departments of our

life.

  

            I remember a pertinent anecdote involving Opus Dei

founder, St. Josemaria Escriva, and some of his spiritual children who

were assigned to put up the University of Navarre in Spain. When these

Opus Dei faithful finally managed to put up the university, they were

happy and proud to present it to the founder.

  

            The founder was obviously happy, but he told them that he

did not simply tell them to put up the university, but rather to

become a saint by putting up the university.

            We should not forget the proper priorities in our life,

avoiding getting confused and lost in the technicalities of our

earthly sojourn. St. Paul said it clearly when he said: “This is the

will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thes 4,3)

   

            And Christ himself said, “Seek first the kingdom of God

and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt

6,33) He reiterated this point a number of times as when he said, “Be

perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” (Mt 5,48)

  

            When evaluating our performance and the quality of our

work, we have to see to it that the constant and ultimate criterion

should be whether our work has led us to sanctity, to a growth in our

love for God and for others, which is the essence of holiness.

  

            There should at least be the awareness that we are

becoming a better person every time we finish a job, that we are

growing in the different virtues, that we are getting closer to God

and to everyone else.

  

            Thus, when we start planning and organizing our tasks, we

should see to it that the primary principle and motive to drive us is

our response to the call to holiness that God is issuing for all of

us. We should use the pertinent spiritual and supernatural means as

well as the human devices to meet this need.

  

            We should be careful not to get stuck in the secondary and

subordinate motives for working as when we would be more interested in

getting the job done, or in earning some money, etc. All these latter

motives have their legitimate value, but only as support and tools to

the primary motive of seeking sanctity, of doing things out of love

for God and others.

   

            Looking at the world today, we can readily realize that a

lot still need to be done to make holiness the be-all and end-all of

our life. For sure, a lot of catechesis is needed, a lot of formation

as well, so that everyone would be reassured that this goal of

sanctity is objectively for all of us and that it is achievable with

God’s grace and our effort.

  

            We have to debunk the belief that some people have that

regards holiness as optional, or that it is only meant for some people

who are considered to be specially gifted, etc.

  

            We have to know how to neutralize if not convert the many

secularizing elements in today’s world into occasions and instruments

for our sanctification. We certainly have to consider the temper of

the times and learn how to humanize and Christianize it.